Reanalysis of previously collected scores from 86 African adults (22.4 yr. old) and 190 Canadian youth (17.4 yr.) on Eysenck's social desirability scale indicated differences across gender and cultures in describing one's own personality favourably. Whereas there was no gender difference for the Canadian adolescents, African women scored higher than the African men and the Canadian boys and girls. While the gender and cross-cultural differences are consistent with some prior work, they should be examined in greater detail with respect to cultural experiences and measures of personality, child-rearing, and aspirations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
EysenckH. J.Genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences: The three major dimensions of personality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1990, 58, 245–261.
2.
EysenckH. J.EysenckS. B. G.Manual for the Eysenck Personality Inventory. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service, 1968.
3.
LeeR. G.Psychological androgyny and social desirability. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1982, 46, 147–152.
4.
MarshH. W.AntillJ. K.CunninghamJ. D.Masculinity, femininity, and androgyny: Relations to self-esteem and social desirability. Journal of Personality, 1987, 55, 661–683.
5.
PereraM.EysenckS. B. G.A cross-cultural study of personality: Sri Lanka and England. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 1984, 15, 353–371.
